Heritage Tree Preservation & Documentation
Promoting the preservation of indigenous and heritage trees across Punjab, Haryana, Jammu, Rajasthan and Pakistan — including geo-tagging and documenting trees associated with gurdwaras, temples, and shrines.
Why this work matters.
Heritage trees in our region are not just old trees — they are living witnesses to the spiritual and cultural history of the land. Many gurdwaras, temples, and shrines are named after the tree that gave them shade: Amb Sahib, Imli Sahib, Ber Sahib, Tahli Sahib, Nim Sahib, Jandi Sahib. In most cases, a Guru, saint, or spiritual figure rested beneath that tree, and the community grew around it.
Over centuries of urbanisation and changing land-use, many of these trees have been lost — or survive as single descendants of the original. Kesu Environment Foundation's documentation work maps each surviving patch, records the story connecting the tree to its spiritual site, and publishes the record in a form that is accessible to villagers, researchers, government bodies, and the diaspora.
This work requires field visits, local community testimony, archival research, GPS survey, and careful horticultural assessment of each tree's health and propagation options. It is slow, careful work — and it is only worthwhile if it is done thoroughly.
Photographs from the work.
All photographs are taken by the Foundation's field team with the permission of the communities they depict. The work continues — the gallery is updated as new documentation happens.
What this programme does.
Geo-tagging and documentation of heritage trees
Planting special trees in gurdwaras, villages, and other places associated with trees
Recording the origin story and historical era of each tree-site pairing
Publishing accessible records so the community can find patches near them
Specific work, specific places.
Each project below is a sustained piece of work at a specific location — with its own story, media, and community.
Amritsar heritage tree documentation drive
Amritsar district, Punjab
Community forest, Sri Muktsar Sahib
Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab
Descendant propagation at Kartarpur
Kartarpur, Pakistan
New projects are added as work begins. Each project has its own landing page with photographs, video, progress updates, and the messages that drive the work.
Support this programme.
Whether you are an individual donor, a CSR partner, or a government body — your support keeps this work going.